Improved automatic car-coupling



P. LAFLIN.

Ca-r Coupling.

Pa'nted Oct. A27, 1868.

N. PETERS. Photo-Lithography. Washington. D. C.

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@menig PERREY LAELIN, 0E WARREN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR To HIMSELR ARD Jenn YJ. SPRAGUE, 0E PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND,

Letters Patent No. 83,512, dated October 27, 1868.

IMPROVE!) AUTOMATIC CAR-COUPLING.

The Schedule referred to iu these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

Kno'w all man by these presents:

. That I, PERLEY LAFLIN, of Warren, in the county of Worcestenand Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gar- Shackles; and I do hereby declare that the following is `a full,`clear, and exact description o fthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, in which- Figure l represents a side view of two cars with my improved shackle appplied thereto; l

Figure ,2 represents a top or plan view of the. same;

Figure 3 represents an end view;

Figure 4 represents sections ou line A B, A B, iig. 2;

Figure 5 represents a section on line OD, iig. l; and

Figure 6 represents a section ou line E F, o'. 3.

To enable those skilled in the art to which my invention belongs to make and use the same, -I will proceed to describe it more in detail.

It has long `been a desideratum to obtainsome simple, strong, and durable shackle for cars, that could be operated from the top of the carsfbut which has never before been accomplished.

The cars, A A, are to be supplied with the usual draw-pieces or tongues, B, which are to be attached to the cars in the usual manner. are shown in the drawings without the usual springattachments.

The mouths a are made flaring in each direction.

From one side of the draw-piece B projects an arm, C, having an upward projection, b, the upper end of which is slotted, to receive the rear end of the arm D,

which is pivoted at c in the end, b. The inner end of arm G'is provided with two projections, d e, both of which are slotted, one to receive the toggle-piu E, fast- Iened by pin f, and Ithe other the prop-bar G, which is secured b'y means of a connection, a', which is, in turn, connected to arm D by a pin, f'. The prop-bar G, it will be seen, is provided with a^"double-joiut, to insure free action, for reasons hereafter set forth.

The arm D is provided witha spring, g, on its lower side, to bear or rest on the screw h, which is inserted in the under 4side of the arm G, the point ofthe screw passing up in the slot in the end, b, and a little in rear of the point or pivot c.

Rod H-is supported by two loops, 1 2, in the frame of the car. The lower end, II', of rod H is bent, as shown in the drawings, so that thelower end, I, of said rod, which is provided with a projection or knob, 3, strikes against the under side of arm D. when' rod H is raised, which raising-operation `can'be performed by the brakeman while sitting or standing upon the top of the cars. y

' The `prop-bar G is to be so suspended as to always have a tendency to swing from the car, evenwhen the latter is standing on an inclined or up-grade track;

- consequently there is never any difficulty experienced m the-operation of Illy-'improved shackle, no matter For convenience, they I what the grade may be. The prop-bar G will always, it will be seen, catch on the pin 4, when raised, for the reason above Stated.

The operation is as follows:

If a car is to be shackled, the operator can, while sitting or standing upon the top of the car, raise rd H,V and thereby elevate arm D by the end, I, of rod H. As soon as the arm D is raised high enough to allow the hinged prop-bar G to swing forward, its notch k will catch upon the pin 4, which passesv through the 'draw-piece B, thus supporting the toggle-pin E and arm D in the elevatedposition shown in dark lines on the right in iig. 4. The draw-link J beiugattached to 011e car, as shown in dark hues ou the left in iig. 4, the cars are now run together, when the end, 5, ofthe drawlink J Aenters the haring mouth of the draw-pieceB of the car to be shackled, and Striking against the propvbar G, knocks it oli' of the pin 4, as `fully indicated in red lines, iig. 4, 'and when arm D falls, and the togglepin 'E entering the shackle or draw-link J, the cars are vsecurely shackled. The draw-pieces' B are made with shoulders or projections, 6, against which the end of the link J strikes, after it haskuocked oi the prop-bar, as shown in red lines, fig. 4; consequently there is no danger ofthe prop-bar being injlned, by the concussion or force of the cars when shackled. It will be seen that by my invention, cars can be shackled and unshackled with ease and safety, and that the construction is both simple and strong.

My invention fully obviates the danger attending modes in use, and will be highly appreciated by all those skilled in the art to which my invention belongs.

varied somewhat, without departing from the principle of my invention. t

Having described my improved car-shackle,

What I claim therein as new, and of my invention, and desire to secure by'Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with the draw-piece B, the projecting arm C, and its slotted standard or upright piece, 11, of the hinged or pivoted arm D, and the prop G and toggle-pin E, attached to said arm, substantially in the manner described, the whole being arranged to operate as set forth.

2. In-combination with the parts named in the preceding clause, the rod H, constructed and arranged to operate in connection with the swinging arm D, substantially as described.

3. The combination and arrangement, with the arms Gand D, of spring g andscrew h, substantially in the mannerl and for the purposes set forth.

v PERLEY LAFLIN.

Witnesses:

J. W. GHADSEY, N. B. CHADSEY.

the shackling and uushackling of cars by the ordinary It will be apparent that the construction may be 

